Lula - honestly, I wish I'd said that too, but it looks like it's too late now. Look, they've gone and revived the "what's wrong with Barbelith" thread just for lil old me...
and Haus - are you a teacher or something? This feels suspiciously like homework... numbered questions and everything, oww.
a) You fell for the trap of accusing people who don't respond to challenge with abuse of being "passive-aggressive".
Perhaps I used the wrong term, as your dictionary.com cut'n'paste showed. What term should I have used? Pedantic, sarcastic... witty? I'm not being entirely serious here btw, but I recognise your dislike of the innappropriate use of language. Sorry for bugging you.
b) You demanded safe passage for any statement you make if it is determined (by you) to be a joke.
No, I didn't. I've asked users to clarify their positions rather than making potshots, and I've responed to these clarifications as best I could. I've never demanded that it be let go because it was a joke. I may have asked (I can't remember), but certainly not demanded.
c) And now you have, although apparently wise enough to avoid "politically correct", gone for the equivalent "right-on", to suggest that opposition to anything you might fancy saying is only explainable in terms of some sort of kerazy loon-panted 70s ideology.
yeah, I didn't want you to hit me with that scary thread you chuck at the newbs. I've read it, and it made my head hurt. I honestly can't think of a better way of describing Barbelith than 'right-on', for the good and bad of that phrase. Yes Barb is welcoming to all genders/races/sexes/other, but it is also extemely intollerant of intollerance as others have mentioned elsewhere. In some ways it can be the stereotype of the kerazy loon-panted 70s ideology you reference. Sorry, but this is how I see it. I don't find it particularly offensive as you seem to though. Perhaps this is something for the What's wrong with Barbelith thread?  You can pull Mordant up on his use of the term there too.
d) You insist that you and you alone are the arbiter of what is appropriate
I would disagreed with this too. How often have I found something offensive to me on this board? Once, twice? You accuse me of hyperbole, don't be a hypocrite. [I'll be honest, I just wrote a really nasty joke here, but I deleted it. That's how hard I'm trying to stay calm and not get personal!]. I didn't percieve Jack's comment to be a well intentioned joke, so I told him what I thought. Perhaps it's because I'm a little gunshy of most of the elder members here. I still perceive most of you (yourself included Haus) to sometimes be snarky, petty and a bit too sharp for comfort. Often, your tone can be read as very condescending, and this makes me bite. I admit I can't let it stand - sometimes a particularly smug comment will rile me and this one, directed at me, got a response I felt it deserved. This doesn't mean that I'm dictating what can and can't be said. I didn't beat him other the head with it, I said it and left it. Others, like yourself, have carried it much farther than Jack seemed to want to.
If I were to make a whole bunch of off-colour remarks about Jews on Barbelith, and then insist that my anti-semitism was my problem, not anyone else's, how hunty do you feel that dog would be?
That dog would indeed be roadkill. Do you really feel my comments were of similar severity? If you do, then I am really sorry. Honestly, I don't know what else to say. I'm tired of saying that word today, but I really am sorry if I've caused that much offense. I won't do it again.
I'm going to have to stop this now, as I'm really tired after a long day at work, and then these essays, and I'm getting too emotional to make this worth it at the moment. Carry on if you want, it'll give me something nice to wake up for. |
